Comments on: NBA Playoffs: Nowitzki closes out Durant, Thunder in Game 4

By: delius1967

delius1967 — Tue, 24 May 2011 22:26:19 +0000

Durant actually reminds me of the Nowitzki of 6-7 years ago. Not in his style, but in the weapons he has, and more importantly, the ones he doesn’t. If Durant was European (read: White) we would probably be calling him “soft” for the same reasons Dirk was called soft: he has no real post game, and if you bang him, he’ll start settling for long jumpers.

Durant needs to learn how to play with his back to the basket, how to catch the ball 8-10 feet away and take on the defense. Right now, he plays more like a very tall point guard, preferring to get the ball beyond the arc and either beat his defender off the dribble or shoot a three-pointer. That’s classic Dirk, circa 2005. Nowitzki’s low-post game is a relatively recent development, as is his ability to absorb hits while pounding the ball toward the rim.

Durant will learn these things. He’s too talented not to. It just takes time; ask Nowitzki.

By: emeraldcityfan

emeraldcityfan — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:04:38 +0000

Way to go Dallas! Seattle thanks you!

By: jjared1101

jjared1101 — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:06:09 +0000

Tanking? ….29pts and 15rebs in an elimination game is tanking? Lets keep in mind that it is a team game and it’s hard to tank a game by yourself. But if you want to regurgitate espn pundits, have at it.

By: jb4820

jb4820 — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:55:31 +0000

All comments on Dirk are premature. He has done this before in 2006 before tanking in the finals against the Heat. If he loses in the finals again to the Heat he is back to where he was at the start of this season with his window closing.

By: davidly

davidly — Tue, 24 May 2011 14:31:32 +0000

You can bet that the bandwagon will be overflowing if they meet the Heat.

By: davidly

davidly — Tue, 24 May 2011 13:12:31 +0000

Top Ten Reasons those who’ve been around Long Enough Still Think Jordan Rates as the Game’s Best Closer
Here we go, number…
10) Tex Winter
9) He was always a threat to split defenders and get around a third (even hanging in the air) to finish at the hoop
8) John Paxson
7) 1991
6) Craig Hodges
5) 1996
4) Steve Kerr
3) Scottie Pippen
2) 1998
And, finally, the number one thing that made Jordan the best closer…
He could do what everyone else named in this article can do (and more)

By: kahanapaniolo

kahanapaniolo — Tue, 24 May 2011 09:02:36 +0000

Why is every sportswriter writing about how the OKC are learning this and how the OKC can win this way and that way. Blah Blah Blah. No One is talking about how the MAVERICKS are beating everybody. The experts picked Portland. The Lakers were two time champs. But NO ONE writes about the Mavericks. I Love It. Stay off our wagon. It’s ours and it’s a long time coming. Sssshhhhhhhh !!!

By: purdueman

purdueman — Tue, 24 May 2011 08:51:06 +0000

The OC Thunder… snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory! Better luck next year, fella’s. As the old saying goes, “You’ve just been schooled!”

Anybody else out there find it more than just a little bit ironic that the Thunder home crowd last night was all dressed in dark blue to match the uniform color of the visiting Mavs? And speaking of home crowd colors, every time I see a crowd shot in Miami wearing nothing but all white BVD’s, I keep thinking that I’ve got the wrong game on and I look to see how BYU is doing!